Autism in the News – 06.02.11

Prenatal Vitamins May Lower Autism Risk (WebMD)Taking prenatal vitamins may reduce the risk of having a child with autism, new research shows. It appears that women who reported taking prenatal vitamins starting three months prior to conception and through the first month after conception seem to have a reduced chance their child will develop autism,” says study researcher Irva Hertz-Picciotto, PhD, professor of epidemiology and environmental health at the MIND Institute and Department of Public Health, University of California, Davis. Read more.

Family of girl with autism: ‘She radiated light’ (Arvada, Colo.)Serguei and Liliya Vlassenko moved across the ocean for the love of their child five years ago. From a comfortable life in Bryansk, Russia, about 235 miles from Moscow, to America, so their daughter Kristina, who had autism and was nonverbal, could have a better life. Read more.

Autistic teenager wins silver medals at Special Olympics (UK)A teenager who has severe autism has won two silver medals at his first Special Olympics cycling event. Daniel Weston, 18, from Newport, Barnstaple, who has been cycling for five years, won the medals at the national event in Manchester. He came second in the 10K time trial and in the 15K road race. Read more.

Many parents attend Jax Hts. autism meet (Queens Campaigner)About 80 people, most of them parents of children with autism, gathered at the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights last week to speak to New York autism advocates about how to navigate the educational and medical systems as well as hear about services available to them and their children. Read more.

Light It Up Blue Rockland Donates $15,000 to Autism Speaks (Pearl River, N.Y.)Light It Up Blue Rockland wrapped up its 2011 campaign with the promise of more to come. “This will be an ongoing yearly event,” said Kevin Joyce of Prudential Joyce Realty, one of the campaign organizers. “We will have time to plan and time to make us grow and truly make Rockland County Blue.” Read more.